Time is an observed phenomenon, by which human beings sense and record changes in the environment and the universe. Our measurement of time uses clocks and is done in seconds, minutes, hours, and so on. Clocks are a recent human development, first created in the 8th century to organize time, thousands of years post human existence. Standardized worldwide time zones are even newer, first established in 1879, and daylight savings time beginning in 1918.
Despite these efforts to grasp and manage time, the sun rises and the sun sets. Each day we experience time differently. The day feels longer in summer than in winter. A fun vacation feels short while a work week drags on. A 9 month pregnancy is torture, but those first 9 years pass in a blink of an eye.
We created a measurement of time for good reasons. Time provides a way to agree upon starting and ending moments. Time is an effective tool when used for planning or communication. For example, deadlines are a use of time to establish an end date for a task. Deadlines help us determine when it is time to move onto the next task and to give us incentive to overcome the natural procrastination that most of us have.
Measuring and managing the EXPERIENCE of time, however, is the real factor that affects our daily lives, stress levels, and the ability to accomplish our goals. While measuring time is exact, the experience of time is malleable.
Everyone’s time flows differently. Measuring how long it takes to complete a task cannot be exact and must consider other factors. Individual skills, tools such as the speed of the Internet, ability to think quickly and decide, and the strength of relationships all impact the time to complete a task.
Understanding time and its benefits and flaws is essential to understanding how we can influence our experience of time. We cannot manage time. Management implies some level of control or authority over something or someone. Managing time means a level of control over time itself. But, we cannot change how long a minute is or slow down the ticking of a clock. Time management is a myth.
We do have control over how we spend the time we have and how we EXPERIENCE time. It is a precious currency and we can manage the decisions on how to spend it. Rather than trying to manage time, manage actions. Shifting your thinking helps you focus on what is within your control and leads to a better and less stressful experience of time.
When you shift your focus to what you can control, you find you can manipulate your experience of time by finding time or losing time depending on the choices you make. In the next article, I’ll share ways to maximize what is within your control so you can create a better experience of time.
The next first step is to look at the decisions you make and the actions you take and explore what is within your control and what isn’t. Shift your thinking and you shift your life.
